AMERICAN CRIME WAVE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 31 January 1927, Page 5

AMERICAN CRIME WAVE.

PROPOSALS TO REDUCE IT. RESTRICTIONS ON CARRYING ARMS. i UAilii/!/-- PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYHIGHT NEW YORK, Jan. 29. At Chicago, the National Crime Commission to consider means to reduce the crime wave was attended by various noted public men, including the exSecretary for War, Mr. Barker, ex-Go-ernor Lowden of Illinois, and Police Commissioner of more than 20 largo cities.

The commission paid special attention to the use of fire arms by criminals. Mr. Barker asked whether the Police Commissioners knew of any cases where citizens had really helped themselves by using pistols for self protection. The answer was unanimously in the negative. Among the suggestions made for curbing the . disem mat ion of arms were the, imposition of a 200 per tent, tax on all American manufactuiers and an embargo on the importation of such weapons save by the Government, prohibition of the use ol' mails to send arms, prompt trials, drastic and certain punishment, of gun carriers, the manufacture and sale of all arms to be under federal supervision, keeping records of every

yuu manufactured from the time it was made to the moment it was sold, and the deportation of aliens found carrying arms. Mr. Lowden stressed the punitive phase of crime control, citing figures •to show that 59 per cent, of crimes were inadequately punished. Police officials testbed that machine guns, the newest and most effective weapon, of the American gunman, were now being sold openly by ostensibly reputable sporting goods and hardware dealers. In certain states political influence was used to obtain permits for criminals to carry fire arms legally.